Double rotary brush car wash assembly

ABSTRACT

In a car-washing installation a pair of opposite side rotary brush supporting stations are provided at longitudinally spaced points on opposite sides of the path of movement of a vehicle through the car-washing installation. Each rotary brush supporting station includes a support mounted for movement laterally of the path of movement through the car-washing installation, a first arm pivotally mounted on the support at one end for horizontal swinging relative to the support and having a first rotary brush on its other end, and a second arm has one end thereof pivotally secured to the free end of the first arm for swinging in a horizontal plane relative to the first arm and the free end of the second arm also has a rotary brush journaled therefrom. First and second fluid motors drive the brushes carried by the free ends of the first and second arms and a third fluid motor, connected in parallel with the source of fluid under pressure supplied to the first motor, is connected between the free end of the first arm and the adjacent end of the second arm for swinging the second arm relative to the first arm with increased force as the drag on the first fluid motor (by the first brush contacting a car to be washed) is increased. As the car to be washed moves past each rotary brush supporting station the brush on the free end of the first arm washes the corresponding half of the front of the car and the rotary brush on the free end of the second arm washes the entire front of the car. Thereafter, the rotary brushes are &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;walked&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; around the adjacent front corner of the car and the two brushes thereafter wash the adjacent side of the car upon continued movement of the car past each rotary brush supporting station. As the car begins to move past each rotary brush supporting station the first brush on the free end of the first arm walks around the adjacent rear corner of the vehicle to wash the adjacent side of the rear of the vehicle and the second arm thereafter swings almost 180* relative to the first arm to traverse the entire rear of the vehicle. In this manner, each side of a car passing between the rotary brush supporting station is twice scrubbed by brushes, once by the first brush of that station and once by the second brush of that station and each front and rear end of the car is scrubbed a total of three times, the rotary brushes carried by the free ends of the second arms each scrubbing each end of the car once and the rotary brushes carried by the free ends of the first arms scrubbing each adjacent half of each end of the car once.

United States. Patent 1 1 Baker 1451 v Oct, 8, 1974 DOUBLE ROTARY BRUSH CAR WASH ASSEMBLY [76] Inventor: George M. Baker, 744 Lenox Dr.,

Jackson, Miss. 39211 [22] Filed: July 5, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 376,377

12/1969 Fuhringetal. 1.15/211) 9/1970' Fergerson l5/2lD Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts- Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT In a car-washing installation a pair of opposite side rotary brush supporting stations are provided at longitudinally spaced points on opposite sides of the path of movement of a vehicle through the car-washing installation. Each rotary brush supporting station includes a support mounted for movement laterally of the path of movement through the car-washing installation, a first arm pivotally mounted on the support at one end for horizontal swinging relative to the support and having a first rotary brush on its other end, and a second arm has one end thereof pivotally secured to the free end of the first arm for swinging in a horizontal plane relative to the first arm and the free end of the second arm also has a rotary brush joumaled therefrom. First and second fluid motors drive the brushes carried by the free ends of the first and second arms and a third fluid motor, connected in parallel with the source of fluid under pressure supplied to the first motor, is connected between the free end of the first arm and the adjacent end of the second arm for swingingthe second arm relative to the first arm with increased force as the drag on the first fluid motor (by the first brush contacting a car to be washed) is increased. As the car to be washed moves past each rotary brush supporting station the brush on the free end of the first arm washes the corresponding half of the front of the car and the rotary brush on the free end of the second arm washes the entire front of the car. Thereafter, the

rotary brushes are walked around the adjacent front 1 corner of the car and the two brushes thereafter wash the adjacent side of the car upon continued movement of the car past each rotary brush supporting station.

As the car beginsto move past eachrotary bnish supporting station the first brush on the free end of the first arm walks around the adjacent rear corner of the vehicle to wash the adjacent side of the rear of the vehicle and the second arm thereafter swings almost 180 relative to the first arm to traverse the entire rear of the vehicle. In this manner, each side of a car passing between the rotary brush supporting station is twice scrubbed by brushes, once by the first brush of that station and once by the second brush of that station and each front and rear end of the car is scrubbed a total of three times, the rotary brushes carried by the free ends of the second arms each scrubbing each end of the car once and the rotary brushes carried by the free ends of the first arms scrubbing each adjacent half of each end of the caronce. I

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUET 81w 3.839.762

sum anr 4 DOUBLE ROTARY BRUSH CAR WASH ASSEMBLY Heretofore various similar structures have been utilized in car washing installations. Two of these previous structures are disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 3,466,688 and 3,484,884. However, these previous devices have for the most part utilized spring means between the first and second arms at each rotary brush supporting station with the result that relative pivoting between the arms varies the force applied to pivot the second arms relative to the first arms. This results in uneven pressure being applied by the second rotary brushes throughout their engagement with the car being washed.

The car wash assembly of the instant invention includes structure whereby the force generated to pivot the second arm of each rotary brush supporting station relative to the first arm is varied proportionally to the drag of the rotary brush carried by the first arm as it contacts the car or other vehicle being washed and in this manner substantially even pressure is applied by each brush on the car or other vehicle beingwashed.

The main object of this invention is to provide a double rotary brush car wash assembly constructed in a manner to engage each rotary brush with the adjacent car surfaces with substantially the same force.

Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a car wash assembly in accordance with the preceding object and wherein the opposite sides of each car or other vehicle being washed will be twice contacted by rotary brushes and the front and rear ends of each car or other vehicle being washed will be'thrice contacted by rotary brushes.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a car wash assembly which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and dependable in operation so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one side of the double rotary brush car wash assembly of the instant invention and with the rotary brushes thereof in relative positions which occur as the inner rotary brush-begins to move around the adjacent front comer of the corresponding side of the vehicle being washed;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the assemblage illustrated in FIG. 1 as seen from the section'line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a multi-position schematic view illustrating the relative positions of the rotary brushes at each rotary brush supporting station in various stages of the front, near side and rear of the car being washed;

FIG. 3A is a multi-position schematic view illustrating the final relative positions of the rotary brushes during washing of the rear end of the car or other vehicle being washed;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic circuit whereby the inner rotary brush is driven and the second arm is pivoted relative to the first arm;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the fluidcircuit by which the main support and first arm of each rotary lation in FIG. 3. The installation 10 includes a pair of double rotary brushsupporting stations 12 and 14 disposed on opposite sides of the path 16 of movement of a car or other vehicle 18 through the car wash installation 10.

Each double rotary brush supporting station 12 and 14 is substantially identical except that the various support and arm portions thereof are actuated in mirror image fashion relative to each other. Accordingly, the structure and operation of the double rotary brush supporting station 12- to follow hereinafter will be understood to also apply to the double rotary brush supporting station'14.

The station 12 includes a supporting framework referred to in general by the reference numeral 22 and from which one end of a support arm 24 is pivotally supported as at 26 for swinging about a vertical axis relative to the support framework 22. Afirst doubleacting hydraulic cylinder 28 is connected between the support arm 24 and the support framework 22 for swinging the support arm 24 relative to the support framework 22. First and second stops 30 and 32 are provided, see FIG. 1, to limit swinging of the support arm 24 relative to the support framework 22.

A first rotary brush arm 34 is pivotally supported from the support arm 24 as at 36 and a second doubleacting hydraulic cylinder 38 is connected between the support arm 24 and the first brush arm 34. In addition,

a second brush arm 38 is pivotally supported from the free end of the first brush arm 34 as at 40 and it may be seen that a first rotary brush 42 is journaled from the first brush arm 34 and that a second rotary brush 44 is journaled from the free end of the second rotary brush arm 38.

The number two brush carried by the free end of the second brush arm 38 is driven by means of a hydraulic motor 46 and the number one brush carried by the free end of the first brush arm 34 is driven by a hydraulic motor 48. The hydraulic motor 46 is operatively connected to any'suitable source (not shown) of hydraulic fluid under pressure and the hydraulic motor 48 is also connected to that source of hydraulic fluid under pressure. However, a third hydraulic motor 50 is operably connected between the free end of the first brush arm 34 and the base end of the second brush arm 38 and is connected to the aforementioned source of hydraulic fluid in parallel with the hydraulic motor 50, see FIG.

4. The hydraulic circuit servicing the meters 48 and 50 with the return line 58 through a variable control valve 62 and also a one-way check valve 64-.

From the various views it will be noted that the support arm 24 is longer than the arms 34 and 38 and also that the arm 38 is longer than the arm 34. The arm 24 is approximately 60 inches in length, the arm 38 is approximately 48 inches in length and the arm 34 is approximately 36 inches in length.

A stop assembly 60 is provided to limit counterclockwise movement of the second brush arm 38 relative to the first brush arm 34, a stop assembly 62 is provided to limit clockwise swinging of the first brush arm 34 relative to the support arm 24 and the aforementioned limit stops 30 and 32 are provided to limit swinging of the support arm 34.

The cylinders 28 and 38 are each of the doubleacting type and FIG. comprises a diagrammatic view of the fluid actuating circuit for the cylinders 28 and 38. The circuit is referred to in general by the reference numeral 66 and comprises an input line for air under pressure at approximately 125 psi. The circuit 66 includes a branch circuit 68 for servicing the cylinder 28 and a branch circuit 70 for servicing the cylinder 38. The branch circuit 68 includes a manual valve'72 for selectively communicating either an oil pot 74 with the cylinder 28 or an oil pot 76 with the cylinder 28. The oil pot 74 is communicated with the rear of the cylinder 28 through a combined control and check valve 78 and the oil pot 76 is connected to the front of the cylinder 28 through a combined control and check valve 80. The oil pot 74 is directly communicated with the valve 72 and the oil pot 76 is communicated with the valve 72 through a pressure regulator 78.

The branch circuit 70 includes a line 82 having a pilot operated valve 84 serially connected therein and a pair of oil pots 86 and 88 are provided for actuating the front and rear ends of the cylinders 38. The oil pot 88 is connected to the rear end of the cylinder 38 by means of a combined flow control and check valve 90 and the oil pct 88 is connected to the pilot operated valve 84 through a pressure regulator 92. Also, the oil pot 86 is connected directly to the pilot operated valve.

The branch circuit 70 includes a circuit section 94 connected to the air actuator 98 of the pilot operated valve 84 and including a cam-actuated lever valve 102. The circuit section 94 also includes a cam-actuated lever controlled vent valve 100 communicated therewith.

As the arm 24 swings away from the path 16 to the approximate positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 1 and the center left hand view of FIG. 3, the arm 24 actuates the lever valve 102 and as the arm 34 is swung to the position thereof illustrated in the bottom left-hand view of FIG. 3 the valve 100 is actuated.

The complete cycle of operation of the car wash assembly 10, with regard to the double rotary brush support station on the right-hand side of the path 16, may be understood as follows.

With the brushes at rest air pressure is applied to the top of oil pot 88 so that pressure is applied to the rear of the cylinder 38 holding the secondary arm 34 in the extended position. After the hydraulic motors 50 and 48 are actuated as well as the motor 46 for the brush 44, as the car moves forward it forces the brushes 44 and 42 to successively engage the car in the manner illustrated in the top two positions illustrated in the left hand column of FIG. 3. As the car 18 moves forward the arm 24 swings away from the path 16 in order to trip the lever valve 102 reversing the pressure on cylinder 38 through the oil pot 86. As the brush 42 clears the front of the vehicle 18 as illustrated at the bottom of the left-hand column of views in FIG. 3, cylinder 38, with the help of the direction of rotation of the brush 42, moves down the side of the vehicle 18 until the end of the secondary arm 34 swings to within approximately 12 inches of the main arm 24. The speed of swinging movement of the secondary arm as the free end thereof moves down the side of the car 18 to a point where the secondary arm completes its swing as the brush is approximately three feet from the rear of the vehicle 18 is controlled by the flow control valve 90. The secondary arm then operates lever valve releasing the pilot operated valve 84 which returns to the unoperated condition applying a pressure again to the rear of the cylinder 38 to push the brush 42 across the rear of the vehicle 18 in the manner illustrated at the bottom of the right-hand column of views in FIG. 3. Pressure regulator 92 is set to apply approximately 12 lbs. per brush for urging the brushes 42 and 44 into contact with the vehicle 18.

Cylinder 28 is pressurized at its front end during the full operation, which pressure is controlled by the pressure regulator 78. Manual valve 72 can be operated to reverse the pressure on the cylinder 28 in order to swing the support arm 24 away from the path 16 in the .event it is necessary for both brushes to clear a damaged portion of the adjacent side of the vehicle 18. The speed of swinging movement of the arm 24 is controlled by control valves 78 and 80.

The lever valves 100 and 102 may be of any suitable type and comprise the two major control factors for operation of the car wash installation 10. Of course, the double rotary brush support station 14 includes a simi-' lar set of operating controls such as those illustrated in FIG. 5. However, once the air pressure has been applied to the top of oil pot 88 and the motors 48 and 50 as well as the motor 46 have been op'eratively connected with asuitable source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, the car wash installation 10 is substantially automatic in operation. Of course, it may be seen from the two views of FIG. 3A that the brushes 42 and 44, after the vehicle 10 has been washed, are swung back to the positions thereof illustrated at the top of the lefthand column of views in FIG. 3.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, itis not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A vehicle washing installation comprising a structure defining a path for a vehicle moving relative to said structure, a support mounted from said structure for movement laterally of said path, a first arm having one end pivotally mounted on said support for swinging of the other end of said arm about a first axis transverse to said path, a second arm having one end pivotally mounted on said other end of said first arm for swinging of the other end of said second arm about a second axis generally paralleling the first axis, first and second rotary brush means journaled on said other ends of said first and second arms, respectively, about axes generally paralleling the first axis, first means connected between said support and first arm operative to bias said first arm relative to said support to a normal position with said second axis generally centered relative to said path, drive means for rotating said second brush, first fluid motor means driving said first brush and second fluid motor means connected between said arms for swinging the second arm relative to the first arm and connected in parallel with said first fluid motor means whereby anincrease in drag of said first motor means will result in increased fluid pressure being supplied to arm and structure include coacting means for limiting swinging of said support arm in both directions relative to said structure.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first means comprises a double-acting fluid cylinder.

6; The combination of claim 1 wherein said second fluid motor means comprises a rotary fluid motor.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms are disposed transverse to said path when said brushes are fully extended to engage the front of a vehicle moving along said path and said first arm is swingable at its free end, to a' position extending in the opposite direction to movement of a vehicle moving along said path with the second arm swung to a position with its free end extending in the direction of movement of a vehicle along said path.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said support comprises one end of an elongated generally horizontal support arm whose other end is pivotally supported from said structure for oscillation about an upstanding axis.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said support arm and structure include coacting means for limiting swinging of said support arm in both directions relative to said structure.

10. A vehicle washing installation comprising a structure defining a path for a vehicle moving relative to said structure, a support mounted from said structure for movement laterally of said path, a first arm having one end pivotally mounted on said support for swinging of the other end of said arm about a first axis transverse to said path, a second arm having one end pivotally mounted on said other end of said first arm for swinging of the other end of said second arm about a second axis generally paralleling the first axis, first and second rotary brush means journaled on said arms. at points spaced therealong, about axes generally paralleling the first axis, drive means for rotating said second brush, first fluid motor means driving said first brush and second fluid motor means connected between said arms for swinging the second arm relative to the first arm and connected in parallel with said first fluid motor means whereby an increase in drag of said first motor means will result in increased fluid pressure being supplied to said second fluid motor means.

* =l= l= =l= 

1. A vehicle waShing installation comprising a structure defining a path for a vehicle moving relative to said structure, a support mounted from said structure for movement laterally of said path, a first arm having one end pivotally mounted on said support for swinging of the other end of said arm about a first axis transverse to said path, a second arm having one end pivotally mounted on said other end of said first arm for swinging of the other end of said second arm about a second axis generally paralleling the first axis, first and second rotary brush means journaled on said other ends of said first and second arms, respectively, about axes generally paralleling the first axis, first means connected between said support and first arm operative to bias said first arm relative to said support to a normal position with said second axis generally centered relative to said path, drive means for rotating said second brush, first fluid motor means driving said first brush and second fluid motor means connected between said arms for swinging the second arm relative to the first arm and connected in parallel with said first fluid motor means whereby an increase in drag of said first motor means will result in increased fluid pressure being supplied to said second fluid motor means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including reversible fluid motor means for shifting said support back and forth laterally of said path.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said support comprises one end of an elongated generally horizontal support arm whose other end is pivotally supported from said structure for oscillation about an upstanding axis.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said support arm and structure include coacting means for limiting swinging of said support arm in both directions relative to said structure.
 5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said first means comprises a double-acting fluid cylinder.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second fluid motor means comprises a rotary fluid motor.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first and second arms are disposed transverse to said path when said brushes are fully extended to engage the front of a vehicle moving along said path and said first arm is swingable at its free end, to a position extending in the opposite direction to movement of a vehicle moving along said path with the second arm swung to a position with its free end extending in the direction of movement of a vehicle along said path.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said support comprises one end of an elongated generally horizontal support arm whose other end is pivotally supported from said structure for oscillation about an upstanding axis.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said support arm and structure include coacting means for limiting swinging of said support arm in both directions relative to said structure.
 10. A vehicle washing installation comprising a structure defining a path for a vehicle moving relative to said structure, a support mounted from said structure for movement laterally of said path, a first arm having one end pivotally mounted on said support for swinging of the other end of said arm about a first axis transverse to said path, a second arm having one end pivotally mounted on said other end of said first arm for swinging of the other end of said second arm about a second axis generally paralleling the first axis, first and second rotary brush means journaled on said arms at points spaced therealong, about axes generally paralleling the first axis, drive means for rotating said second brush, first fluid motor means driving said first brush and second fluid motor means connected between said arms for swinging the second arm relative to the first arm and connected in parallel with said first fluid motor means whereby an increase in drag of said first motor means will result in increased fluid pressure being supplied to said second fluid motor means. 